7 best weekend getaways from Bangalore

If you live in Bangalore, you’ve probably explored the city well enough to know where to eat, drink, party and crash. Now, if you’ve spent most of your weekends devouring delicacies from some of the best restaurants in Bangalore or have routinely chugged beer with your pals at the local bar, it’s about time you got away from the bustling city and went on a road trip for a change. And to help you do just that, we’ve rounded up the best getaways near Bangalore that are all within 300 km from the city.

7 getaways to visit near Bangalore over the weekends

None of the places we’ve listed here need you to wait for a long weekend. From sprawling tea gardens in Chikmagalur to breathtaking mountain views of Coorg and the royal architecture of Mysore city, here are some of the most relaxing getaways you need to take from Bangalore, stat.

1. Mysore (150 km)

The city that is famous for its eponymous dosas and paks and boasts of biryani that can rival its legendary Lucknowi counterpart is just about 150 km away from Bangalore. With its 600-year-old palace, the century-old Devaraja bazaar and a quiet house from where the stories of Malgudi Days came tumbling out, Mysore is a great weekend getaway from Bangalore.

2. Coorg (263 km)

Take an overnight journey from Bangalore to one of Karnataka’s most popular hill stations. We don’t have to sell Coorg to you — after all, it isn’t difficult to fall in love with the lush green mountains and the breathtaking views. Throw in wildlife sanctuaries, a national park and beautiful resorts and homestays amidst coffee plantations and you have the perfect getaway for your next long weekend.

3. Ooty (270 km)

There’s really nothing not to love about Ooty. Forest covered landscapes, misty mountain tops and all the charms of a small town, Ooty is everything you can ask for from a weekend and more.

4. Wayanad (282 km)

Wayanad is the perfect romantic weekend getaway from Bangalore. With spice, tea and coffee plantations and heavy forests, Wayanad is also great for treks, long walks or just a picnic near the Banasura Sagar Dam.

5. Chikmagalur (282 km)

The heavy and incessant rains give Malenadu its name. Loosely translated as ‘land of rain’, Malenadu is the region in the Western Ghats that includes Chikmagalur, the quaint town located some 3400 ft above sea level. Like most hill stations in the region, Chikmagalur is known for its tea and coffee plantations but also boasts of a wildlife sanctuary and provides ample opportunity for treks and hikes.

6. Sakleshpur (221 km)

More tea and coffee plantations, gushing waterfalls, rolling hills and dense forests — Sakleshpur has all of these with a dash of culture and history thrown in. Think centuries old forts that stand solemnly overlooking stunning mountain ranges and spice gardens and the chirping of birds to wake up to. Why wouldn’t you want to go here?

7. Bheemeshwari (105 km)

Bheemeshwari is a small and secluded town situated just a little away from the outskirts of Bangalore city. Apart from its picturesque scenery and pleasant climate, the place offers a host of activities for tourists such as boat riding and fishing at the Cauvery River Fishing Camp. The Kokrebellur Pelicanry is a small village located at a close proximity to Bheemeshwari and is among the five most prominent pelican breeding sites in the world. It boasts of a variety of migratory birds including pelicans and painted storks that can be spotted during winter. The Bheemeshwari Wildlife Sanctuary even contains several wild animals such as otters and wild boars.